KANGPOKPI, September 15: A public meeting on the Sadar Hills issue today resolved to meet again with the elected MLAs and MDCs of the area for a final decision on the issue.
The public organised by the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills was held today at Gamnom Sapormeina Community Hall.
Leaders of various civil societies including the Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association president Tongpu Kipgen, Kuki Women Union Manipur president Rose Mangshi, Kuki Organization for Human Rights chairman Dr T Lunkim apart from block-wise Kuki Inpi leaders, village chiefs, block-wise women union and local civil bodies attended today’s meeting.
While, Lunthang Haokip, MDC Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council was the lone member of the Autonomous District Council attending, the three Congress MLAs from Sadar Hills and other elected MDCs failed to attend the meeting.
Former leaders of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee who had signed a MoU with the State government on October 31 midnight, 2011 also failed to attend the meeting.
Highlighting the factors and reasons of discontentment of the people of area, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills general secretary N Sehjalien Gangte said that creation of Sadar Hills is the outcome of an Act of Parliament called Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971.
The Manipur Constitution Act, 1947 had clearly provided a separate administration for the hills while adding that the Northeast (re-organisation) Act, 1971 and other major and minor Acts of the Constitution provide for administration of the Central government, the special provision was not provided to the two States, he said.
He lamented that refusing to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district is directed towards deprivation of economic development, social upliftment and political growth.
Denying our fundamental rights for the past 40 years is aimed at infusing communal hatred and subduing the interests of the citizens of Sadar Hills asserted Sehjalien while highlighting the chronology of failed assurances by successive Manipur government from 1974 to till date.
As our legitimate demand for creation of Sadar Hills is being continuously denied and cleverly delayed for more than 40 years, the people of Sadar Hills are now compelled to fight with whatever resources we have, affirmed Gangte.
“Why and how the Parliament Act has been ignored and delayed for so long”, wondered Tongpu Kipgen, president SAHILCA while adding that the Act has become a mockery since it has been ignored and delayed for too long.
It is worth withdrawing the Act on the part of the Central government, asserted SAHILCA supremo.
Kuki Women Union president Rose Mangshi opined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government will have a liberal thinking on the Sadar Hills issue if deliberately discussed with.
Lunthang Haokip, MDC said that district boundary issue had already been finalised during the Nipamacha government and it should be followed.
Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills president Seikhomang Khongsai after the public discussion maintained that with the three Congress MLAs from Sadar Hills and elected MDCs totally not in attendance in the public meeting it has been resolved according to the public wave that another round of public meeting will be organised at Saikul sooner or later to take ending resolution on the issue with the presence of the three Congress MLAs of Sadar Hills and elected MDCs.
He continued that the schedule for the next round of public meeting will be informed very soon while urging the people of Sadar Hills to stand solidly with heads together and cooperate with the leaders.